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Empowering Habits for Life: Overcome Limiting Beliefs
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I pondered quite a bit this week on the back of my last 'personal growth' post.
I mean, I have a real live audience aside from my mum now, right?!
But as time and thoughts come together, as a natural flow from the previous week, I thought I’d tackle beliefs and habits this week.
More specifically, looking at our limiting beliefs and how we can overcome them to lead better lives.
So today’s edition is titled:
Beliefs: Are Yours Leading You for Bitter or Better?
Challenging thoughts, beliefs, and habits have been a significant theme in my own life.
Even with this piece and writing this next edition, and the ones previous, I’ve had to make peace with all my limiting beliefs.
With sending this piece of content out, I’ve had thoughts of:
- What if it does well?
- What if it doesn’t flunk?
- What if it doesn’t do well?
- What if this post falls flat?
- What the f*ck am I even doing?
You’re not alone.
Uncovering Our Limiting Beliefs
I understand that these thoughts and many others come from a deeper place within me. They are built up over time from thoughts and experiences, resulting in a set of beliefs that are shaping the life I am leading.
See, our choices are tied and influenced by our beliefs, whether we realize it or not.
It's easy to neglect to take stock of why we do the things we do, living on autopilot as life takes on its everyday.
But sometimes, we need to stop, evaluate, and listen. 🍦
So what if you’ve come to realize you’re not lit up by the life you’re living?
Empowering Change from Within
The answer is never easy, always simple.
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
- Confucius
It starts with a single step in the direction of change.
First, open your mind.
This is the key to the door of possibilities.
Second, examine your thought and belief structures.
What do you believe about things like your health, relationships, and wealth?
Write that sh*t down.
Third, deconstruct and break down your beliefs.
Look at why you believe what you believe. A lot of the beliefs we have accumulated are through our childhood, family, friends, social media, etc. Ask yourself if your beliefs (no matter how they came to be) are bringing you closer to who you want to be, the life you want to live, that is, a better life (or not).
If not, it's time to ditch those beliefs.
Think about the thoughts (and, in turn) beliefs you'd like to cultivate/tend to bring you closer to the life you actually want.
Ditching your current life experience might mean:
- Changing jobs.
- Starting a business.
- Taking up a new eating regime.
- Moving to a new town or country.
- Starting a daily 30-minute walking routine.
Remember, you're not Humpty Dumpty.
You can be put back together again.
One of my favorite sayings is, “Plant a seed (and give it enough attention), and it will grow.”
Reimagining Ourselves for a Better Future
You need to understand and embrace that in order to create a new life; that is, for that new seed to grow, you need to let go of some aspect of who you are.
You need to reinvent or reform a new identity to support your new path.
It might sound scary, but it doesn't have to be.
This is about letting go of your ideas of what your life should be and envisioning and behaving yourself into the life you want.
It’s important to know, though, new choices for your life will only stick if they are backed up by a belief system that supports those new choices. And a new belief system is only shattered through a change in thought, choice, action, time, and iteration. In that order.
I love the analogy of renovating a house.
(This same idea could apply to moving or building a new home too).
The old house served you (or the former owners well), but in order to fulfil your needs and the life you intend to live there, specific changes need to be made. Yes, this will come with sacrifice and challenge, but you understand the end goal of the home you want to live in, and you make the necessary choices and changes in order to achieve that goal.
As with the above, you need to think and then behave yourself into a new life in order to achieve the outcome.
Renovated house = renovated life.
Remember, your life is the sum total of consistent choices based on conscious and subconscious thoughts, beliefs, and habits.
So now what?
(I thought you’d never ask)
(wink, nudge)
Small Steps, Big Impact
Here are a few practical tips that can get you started:
- Start with self-reflection: Take some time to really reflect on your beliefs and habits. Write down what you believe about yourself, others, and the world around you. Then, explore these beliefs and decide if they are limiting you in any way.
- Challenge your beliefs: Once you have recognized your limiting beliefs, challenge them. Ask yourself if they are really true. Are they based on evidence or assumptions? Are they helping or hindering you?
- Replace limiting beliefs with empowering ones: Identify new beliefs that will support your goals and dreams. Write them down and repeat them to yourself regularly. Over time, they will become a habit and help you on the path to achieving your desired outcome.
- Take small steps towards change: Making significant changes in your life can be scary. This is the reality. Break it all down into small steps. Identify one small change you can make today that will bring you closer to your goal. Then, take action on it. And repeat.
- Seek support: Changing your beliefs and habits can be challenging. Ask your friends, family, or a professional if needed for support. Having someone to share your journey with can make all the difference. Even if you have just one person in your corner, it’ll make a world of difference.
Remember, changing your beliefs and habits, just like getting healthier, wealthier, or wiser, takes time and effort. But with consistent action and developing a positive mindset, you can create a new life.
That’s all for now, everyone.
If you felt like this helped you in some way, or you feel like this may help someone you love, please do go ahead and share it.
Reflecting on Our Journey
I do hope you take some time into the new week, and the coming new year to reflect on the current beliefs you hold in your own life. If they’re not taking you in the direction you’d like to be going, I hope you’re willing to shed that skin and move in the direction of that better life.
If you're open to it, I’d love to hear about any beliefs you have held and look to challenge in your own life through the comments section or via email.
Here’s to creating a community of support and encouragement for each other along this journey.
Remember, the answers that come are likely simple, never easy. But with courage and vulnerability (and a little support), we can make changes to lead ourselves toward a better life.
To our better selves.
